Royal Family News
Royal Ascot 2018: Meghan Markle to Make Debut Appearance with Prince Harry
The Royal Ascot is set to be a star-studded affair this year, with the Queen's family out in full force.
Newlyweds Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are expected to attend, with the Duchess of Sussex making her debut just one month after her royal wedding.
However, it took her sister-in-law Kate five years before attending the prestigious horse-racing event.
It's understood that the Queen has invited Prince William and Kate to Ascot every year since their wedding in 2011.
But the Duchess politely declined until 2016 when she attended for a very special reason – to celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday.
Emily Nash, Hello's royal correspondent, explains that the couple were focused on raising their young children, while William was also working as an air ambulance helicopter pilot.
Trending:
Prince William quit his job in 2017, and the couple attended Ascot that year.
“William and Kate's focus was on his job and the children for a while, but they've stepped up their royal duties in the past couple of years,” Emily explained.
As for whether Meghan will be making her Ascot debut this week, Emily added, “if Meghan goes, it's in keeping with her doing so much else already.”
Just last week, the former actress spent the day in Cheshire with the Queen, and a couple of days after her wedding, she attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace for Prince Charles' 70th birthday.
It's not yet known whether Kate, who is technically on maternity leave, will join the royal family at Ascot this week.
She made an appearance at Trooping the Colour to celebrate the Queen's birthday and also attended the royal wedding, but other than that, Kate has kept a low profile since giving birth to Prince Louis in April.
If Meghan attends, all eyes will be on her outfit.
The strict dress code for Ascot can be a sartorial minefield, but Meghan has never put a foot wrong in her royal duties.
When Kate made her debut in 2016, she stunned in a white lace dress by Dolce & Gabbana and a matching fascinator.
The following year, she opted for a similar look, wearing another elegant mid-length white lace dress.
Top stories:
